SPIRITUAL PREPARATION for Revival Across our Land

There is one ONE thing we must be concerned about . . . and that is that our Nation is no longer seeking God for it’s answers, for it’s truth and that begins with our own hearts, minds, choices.

WHEN we seek God FIRST as individuals, rather than going along with the world by avoiding conflict and accepting “this” and then “that,” by looking the other way and by slowly engaging ourselves in the “gray” that is really black . . . our nations elected officials will reflect our own inner change.

Let’s repent for our country . . . perhaps God will relent and turn His favor on us again. Perhaps He will not allow us to be taken over by a nation more evil than we or destroy us from within. Perhaps He will bless us again.

Join me, please. Pray . . . on your knees every day. You can fast for 21 days or 14 days or 7 days or 24 hrs. You can do a partial fast – Fast from one particular food or Fast part of the day each day (pick the time and stay with it) or the Daniel fast. My last 40 day fast I did the Daniel fast for 30 days, fresh juice (1 glass of fruit and 1 glass of vegetable each day) for 6 days, water only for 3 days and no food or water for 24 hrs. (Be very careful and look up how to come off this type of fast. You MUST do it slowly or it can be dangerous.) There are many, many ways . . . find what fits for you and that you are comfortable committing to

There is information on FASTING available by clicking on my linksto the left. I also copied and pasted more info about fasting and a repentant heart attitude and humility before the Lord with our body posture from the call2fall.org website (I also have a link to their website.)

I deeply believe our people turning to God will make the difference in whether our nation . . . America . . . One nation UNDER GOD . . . flourishes again . . or is destroyed.

FASTING

Fasting is a time honored Christian ritual. It is the voluntary sacrifice of food and sometimes drink, too. What is its purpose? How do we make a decision to fast? How long should we fast?
Abstaining from food is the typical kind of fast. (Daniel 6:18) There are occasions when people abstain from both food and drink, though this is not common. (Ezra 10:6) Typically, fasts are one day in length. (Judges 20:26) Sometimes, they are three days (Esther 4:16), or even seven days; “And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:13)

On three occasions in the Bible, people fasted for forty days. This is not a prescribed practice; these were very unusual circumstances. The first occasion was when Moses received the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 34:28) The next occasion was when Elijah encountered God before the anointing of Elisha. (1 Kings 19:8) The third occasion for such a fast was when Jesus was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4:2)

There are many reasons given in the Bible for fasting. The fasting itself is an act of sacrifice and when we fast and experience hunger, we are reminded of God and His sacrifice for us. While fasting denies the flesh comfort, it feeds the spirit strength. Fasts are voluntary, part of religious tradition or done in obedience to God. When you decide to fast, be clear with yourself and with God about why you are fasting, how long you will fast and use the time normally spent preparing and eating food to deepen your relationship with God. The fast should serve a purpose; there should be a significant reason for it.

Bereavement was once a common reason for fasting, though it is not so much anymore. The fasting may have been incidental in some cases but was often a way to feel closer to God during a particularly difficult time. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4)

Distressing or difficult times are reasons for fasting. Fasting is a way of communicating feelings of fear, anxiety, distress or grief to God. Self-denial is one way of expressing genuineness or sincerity. It’s also a way of making a spiritual contribution to relieving the situation, a way of showing God a willingness to do our part and asking Him to make up the difference. (See Esther 4:3) Fasting is sometimes used as a sacrifice when asking God to intervene in a situation. “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” (Psalms 35:13)

Fasting can also be a way of expressing sorrow or regret for sin. God doesn’t ask us for this sacrifice but He is pleased by it. “And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, we have sinned against the LORD…”(1 Samuel 7:6) When this kind of sacrifice is made as a sincere gesture of sorrow or penitence, it is accepted by God.

When Christians seek guidance from God fasting may be an action that is helpful. The idea is to use the time we spend on food to spend with God instead. It provides extra time to spend in prayer, worship and listening. It is also a way of preparing for a spiritual event or change. It’s an act of submission, a way to get our desire out of the way in order to allow the spirit to work. (Acts 13:1-3)

Fasting can be a form of worship. “And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.” (Luke 2:37) Surrendering comfort as an act of worship is not necessary but it is pleasing to God if it is sincere. It is much like saying, “Thank you God for giving Your Son for me. Let me be a little uncomfortable for Your sake.” Here again fasting is an act of sacrifice.
Fasting is a way of communicating emotion to God; it’s a sacrifice that can be made for the sake of restoring a right relationship with God, or can be made coupled with a request for help. Fasting is a way to subdue our flesh for the sake of our spirit. Fasting must be done sincerely to be a pleasing sacrifice to God. It should be kept private; there is no need to reveal our sacrifice to anyone else unless a group is fasting together for a particular reason. Revealing an act of sacrifice is like saying, “Look how holy I am.” It’s spiritual arrogance.
Fasting can be used for a variety of reasons but it must be done sincerely. Choosing to fast can be a way to communicate feelings like sorrow, grief, and regret but it can also be a way of worshiping God. Fasts can be a sacrifice when we ask God for help or guidance and they can be acts of obedience when God asks us to fast. Fasts are time limited and are done for a reason; be clear about how long you will fast and why you are fasting. Whatever your reason for fasting, use the extra time to grow closer to God. He will honor your sacrifice.

The Heart Attitude and Falling to our Knees

The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament comments upon the word “humble” (kana) in this text:

It denotes bringing a proud and recalcitrant people or spirit into subjection… The emphasis is upon a proud and independent spirit abasing itself. Two key references are in Lev. 26:41 and II Chron. 7:14 which indicate that so long as a person, or nation, is arrogant and self-sufficient, God can do nothing for them.

In Scripture, bending the knee is an act of humility, reverence and submission. Some of God’s greatest leaders demonstrated their deep humility by bending their knees in prayer before Almighty God.

Abraham: Then Abraham fell on his face, and God talked with him… (Gen. 17:3)

Moses: Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. (Exod. 34:8)

Solomon: Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven). (2 Chron. 6:12-13)

The Psalmist: Oh come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. (Psalm 95:6)

Elijah: And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel ; then he bowed down to the ground, and put his face between his knees. (1 Kings 18:42)

Ezra: At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God. (Ezra 9:5)

Daniel: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem , he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. (Daniel 6:10)

Peter: They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break…When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:6, 8)

Paul: For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:14) “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayer with them all. (Acts 20:36)

A Promised-Based Anticipation: God will Answer

If we will do our part, we can surely anticipate that He will do His. In fact, Scripture is filled with promises for those who humble themselves before the Lord:

“Then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” (2 Chron. 7:14-15)

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions…And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road. (Ezra 8:21, 31b)

For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks. (Psalm 18:27)

The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. (Psalm 25:9)

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)

Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. (Prov. 3:34)

But on this one thing I will look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:2c)

Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger. (Zeph. 2:3)

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. (1 Peter 5:5-
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In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, not did I anoint myself at all until the three whole weeks were fulfilled. Daniel 10:2, 3

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